Welcome to the Center for Nursing History!

Endowed by the Bellevue Alumnae in 2000, this Center is dedicated to preserving the magnificent history of Nursing in New York State. Please explore the Nursing Archives, read an oral history, view an exhibit, or visit the Foundation!

Frequently Asked Questions

Rules Governing Use of Archival Records

Hours: 8:30 a.m. – 4:00 p.m., Monday—Friday, by appointment

Researchers are granted access to all finding aids and published materials and to all holdings which are not restricted by law, regulation or depository agreement. These restrictions are noted in the finding aids. At the discretion of the archivist/archives coordinator, access may also be restricted to materials which invade the privacy of living persons, contain libelous or defamatory statements or allegations, are unprocessed or are in fragile or poor condition. In these cases, restrictions are regularly reviewed, and measures taken where possible to make records available for use as soon as possible.

All archival materials must be used under supervision in the Library Reading Room or Office Annex Conference Room unless prior arrangements have been made. Coats are to be left in the coat room. Brief cases, bags, and backpacks should be checked with staff. No materials may be removed from these areas. The quantity of materials examined at one time may be limited.

Original order of materials and folders must be maintained. Staff should be promptly notified of any apparent disarrangement. Researchers are requested to use only one folder from a box at a time. Materials may not be folded, written on or handled in any way to cause damage.

The use of any pen is prohibited. Pencils are available for researcher use of needed.

Smoking, drinking or eating are not allowed.

All photocopying of materials will be done by staff at the established charge (15¢/copy). Single copies are made for the researcher's personal reference only. Copies of records are not to be sold or further reproduced or published without permission of the archives and of the copyright holder. Markers for identifying materials to be copied will be provided upon request. The number of copies made at any one time and for any one used may be limited because of limitation of staff or facilities.

Quotation of text of archival materials and all references to archival materials must include a proper citation identifying the records and acknowledging the archives. Examples of approved citations are available upon request. The electronic finding aids also carry "Preferred Citation" wording.

The researcher must obtain prior permission from the archives and from the owners of copyright for any archival material that he/she wishes to publish or make additional copies. Permission to publish or further reproduce material is granted for a specific purpose or occasion and does not convey or transfer copyright of the original material to the requester.
Publishers and authors are encouraged to deposit a copy of any publication based upon or using the archive's holds in the Foundation of New York State Nurses’ Center for Nursing History reference collection.

All rules are subject to specific restrictions and conditions set forth in depositor agreements.

Requests for permission to examine any records in connection with cases of law or legal proceedings of any kind will be referred to the Foundation's legal counsel and, if indicated, legal counsel of the donor organization.

Access Policy

The archival and manuscript collections maintained by the Foundation of the New York State Nurses Bellevue Alumnae Center for Nursing History are a rich historical resource, particularly for the study of the contributions of New York nurses, the development of the nursing profession, health care, and women's issues. Individuals are invited to direct research questions to the archivist at the Bellevue Alumnae Center for Nursing History, 2113 Western Ave., Guilderland, New York. v Reference services are provided without favor or prejudice. Privileged or exclusive use of materials is not granted unless required by law or depositor conditions. Permission to examine archival materials is granted to qualified researchers upon agreement to abide by the Rules Governing Use of Archival Records. These rules are established to protect the Foundation and its holdings, and apply equally to all users, subject to depositor agreements. The archivist reserves the right to enforce these regulations and to refuse or revoke access to researchers who refuse or fail to comply with them.

Collecting Policy

The collecting policy is based on the archives' mission to preserve and provide access to records which document the profession of nursing in New York State, and on the commitment to reduce duplication of effort and competition among agencies by encouraging the full utilization of new and existing local and regional repositories whenever possible.

In January 1987, NYSNA designated the Foundation as the repository and curator of its archives. These records, together with the Foundation’s own archives, constitute the collecting priority. NYSNA and Foundation records will be designated as archival according to established records management procedures. Records of NYSNA-related or Foundation-related organizations, groups, and individuals will be accepted based on the contribution of such records to the understanding of the profession, and as resources allow.

Other materials documenting the profession of nursing in new York State may be collected when a more appropriate repository cannot be located, or as part of an overall documentation strategy. Records “at risk”—threatened by imminent destruction or loss—will be given priority. Such materials may include, but are not limited to, archival records of schools of nursing, visiting nurses associations, hospitals, and other employers of nurses, manuscript collections of the personal papers of individual nurses, and oral histories.

As a general rule, the Foundation archives program will collect originals of records and papers if they contain documentation of nursing not already contained in Foundation and Association archives, and are in danger of loss or destruction because no other institution will assume responsibility for them. Resources permitting, reproductions will be collected as needed to stimulate and foster research.

Memorabilia
Artifacts and memorabilia will be collected only if such materials are integral components of documentation of professional nursing in New York State, are integral components of accepted archives or manuscript collections, and/or are in danger of loss or destruction or will be better utilized if retained by the Foundation.

Rare Books and Pamphlets

Rare books and pamphlets documenting professional nursing in New York State will be collected primarily to support the Foundation’s role as a research center, making available materials which cannot easily be attained elsewhere. Collection of these materials is subject to available resources.

Lending Policy

Bellevue Alumnae Center for Nursing History archival materials may be borrowed for exhibitions, display, programs or classroom use. The Director of the Bellevue Alumnae Center for Nursing History must give approval for loans and exhibit areas must meet environmental and security standards. Objects may not be loaned if, in the opinion of professional staff, there exists unreasonable risk to the safety of the loan material or if they are of such importance, rarity, or fragility that they must not be exposed to danger of loss, damage or deterioration by removal from the archives. The borrowing institution is responsible for objects or manuscripts loaned while in transit and while at the borrowing institution. The Center may require that loans be accompanied by a staff member and that mounting, dismounting, and packing be done under the supervision of the staff member, at the borrower’s expense. No object may be altered, embellished or modified in any way.

The borrower must insure objects door-to-door and furnish the Center with a copy of the insurance policy and a certificate of such insurance.

Adequate recognition should be given in labels (not attached to the objects), news releases, and publications to “Foundation of New York State Nurses, Bellevue Alumnae Center for Nursing History, Guilderland, New York” as the lender of the objects used in the exhibition.

The Center may require a loan fee roughly commensurate with the cost to the Center of preparing and providing materials from its collections for the loan. In each case the fee shall be part of the loan agreement.

Items being loaned will be inventoried and a copy of the inventory will be filed with the signed Loan Agreement.

Citing Material from the Bellevue Alumnae Center for Nursing History

It is suggested that researchers cite materials using the following information:

Title or description of document, including author, recipient or audience, date and (for reports) formal title.

2) Name of collection.

3) For materials from the New York State Nurses Association Archives, accession or “AC” number. For materials from other collection, manuscript collection or “MC” number.

Examples

Permission to Reprint: Guidelines and Request Form

All content published by the Foundation of New York State Nurses, Inc. is the property of the Foundation and may not be reprinted, copied, or otherwise duplicated or reproduced without prior written permission from the Foundation.

Granted permission to reprint, copy or otherwise duplicate or reproduce any Foundation materials is made on a one-time only basis; additional reprint/reproduction needs must be approved by the Foundation.

The Foundation of New York State Nurses must be credited for any content that is reproduced/reprinted using the format provided by the Foundation.

To request permission to photocopy or to republish material from Foundation publications, please complete the form below. You may email, fax or mail your request to:

Foundation of NYS Nurses, Inc.
The Veronica M. Driscoll Center for Nursing
2113 Western Avenue Suite 1
Guilderland, NY 12084
Email: ghutchinson@foundationnysnurses.org or lsickler@foundationnysnurses.org
Fax: (518) 452-3760

Complete those that apply:

Requestor’s organization ___________________________________________________

Requestor’s name and title __________________________________________________

Full mailing address _______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

_______________________________________________________

Requestor’s phone number _________________________________________________

Email address ____________________________________________________________

Fax number _____________________________________________________________

Full reference of requested Foundation article/publication _________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Purpose of use (select one):

□ Teaching □ Meeting □ Publication

□ Other (specify) ________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________

Estimated quantities to be reproduced/printed ___________________________________

Date needed by _____________________

If permission is granted, a permission letter and information on citing the requested material will be mailed to the requestor.